Synthetic resin ratchet winch

ABSTRACT

The ratchet winch has few parts, and these are relatively inexpensive and light in weight. A synthetic resin cap or top, and a synthetic resin base, are each integral with one or more pawls. The base has anchored therein a post assembly on which the cap, and also a synthetic resin drum, are rotatably mounted. The pawls are associated with internal teeth on the drum, and are so shaped and located that the pawls are loaded in compression (column loading) instead of being subjected to significant shearing or bending forces. The cap is molded with a metal insert in which is removably mounted the operating crank or handle.

United States Patent [191 Merriman 1451 Oct. 7, 1975 SYNTHETIC RESIN RATCHET WINCH [22] Filed: June 7, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 367,774

[52] U.S. Cl. 254/150 R; 254/175.3 [51] Int. Cl. B67D 1/74 [58] Field of Search 254/150 R, l75.3; 192/46 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 844,550 2/1907 Thomasson 192/46 UX 3,536,299 10/1970 McCIoud 254/150 R 3,599,937 8/1971 Carter 254/150 R 3,642,253 2/1972 Baldwin 254/150 R 3,712,431 1/1973 Versoy 254/150 R 3,771,766 11/1973 Pillsbury 254/150 R Primary ExaminerRobert B. Reeves Assistant Examiner-Thomas E. Kocovsky Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Richard L. Gausewitz [57] ABSTRACT The ratchet winch has few parts, and these are relatively inexpensive and light in weight. A synthetic resin cap or top, and a synthetic resin base, are each integral with one or more pawls. The base has anchored therein a post assembly on which the cap, and also a synthetic resin drum, are rotatably mounted. The pawls are associated with internal teeth on the drum, and are so shaped and located that the pawls are loaded in compression (column loading) instead of being subjected to significant shearing or bending forces The cap is molded with a metal insert in which is removably mounted the operating crank or handle.

9 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures US. Patent Oct. 7,1975

Sheet 1 of 3 US. Patent Oct. 7,1975 Sheet 2 of3 3,910,557

US. Patent Oct. 7,1975 Sheet 3 of3 SYNTHETIC RESIN RATCHET WINCH BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Throughout this specification and claims, the word This invention relates to the field of ratchet winches integral denotes the meaning formed as one Single for sailboats, etc.

2. Description of Prior Art Ratchet winches for sailboats, etc., are conventionally formed either entirely or mostly of metal, being therefore heavy, relatively expensive, and subject to corrosion. Furthermore, metal winches are often complex, and they require lubrication. Because of these and other characteristics of metal winches, there exists a need for a relatively lightweight, simple and inexpensive winch formed primarily of self-lubricating synthetic resin. Attempts have been made to create synthetic resin winches, but are not known to have met with widespread commercial success. It is believed that such lack of commercial success may have resulted from the lack of strength of prior-art synthetic resin winches, and/or from the fact that such winches had more parts than does the winch of the present invention.

The following patents were discovered in a prior-art search of the present winch: US. Pat. Nos. 844,550; 2,793,740; 3,200,918; 3,288,439; 3,459,390; 3,486,597; 3,536,299; 3,589,486; and 3,599,937.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The winch includes a fixedly-anchored synthetic resin base having a boss portion which is integral with one or more pawls. A post or shaft extends upwardly from the base, and has a synethetic resin drum rotatably mounted thereon. Each end of the drum is recessed and formed with internal ratchet teeth, the lower ratchet teeth being operably associated with the pawls on the base. The upper ratchet teeth are associated with one or more pawls which are integral with a boss portion of a synthetic resin cap.

The pawls are closely adjacent the ratchet teeth and are so oriented that loading of the pawls, caused by attempted rotation of the drum, creates compressive column stresses in the pawls, with minimal shear or bending stresses.

To hold the cap on the drum, a screw is threaded downwardly into the upper end of the post. The head of the screw is disposed in a metal insert in a recessed portion of the cap, beneath the inner end of an operating crank or handle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the synthetic resin ratchet winch;

FIG. 2 is an exploded isometric view showing the various parts of the winch;

FIG. 3 is vertical central sectional view, taken on line 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a horizontal section taken on line 44 of FIG. 3, and showing the pawls in their locking positions;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view corresponding to FIG. 4 but showing the pawls intheir released positions occurring during ratcheting; and I FIG. 6 is a horizontal section on line 66 of FIG. 3.

piece and of the same material. Thus, for example, a part which is connected to another by fasteners, adhesive, etc., is not integral."

The ratchet winch is formed of a relatively small number of components each of which, with the exception of the handle, is composed entirely or primarily of synthetic resin. One of such components is a base and post unit 10, which rotatably supports a second component in the form of a drum 1 l. Rotatably mounted over the drum 11 is a third component, namely a cap or top 12. Such cap or top is driven by use of a handle or crank 13.

Proceeding first to a description of the base and post unit 10, this comprises a synthetic resin disc 15 having a plurality of circumferentially spaced screw openings 16 for reception of flush-type screws or bolts, not shown. The screws or bolts extend downwardly through the openings 16 and through an underlying supporting member, for example the deck of a sailboat or other platform. Thus, the disc 15 is firmly anchored in position in a nonrotatable manner.

Synthetic resin disc 15 is integral and coaxial with a disc-shaped upwardly-extending boss 17, such boss being in turn integral with one or more pawls l8 and 19 as described in detail subsequently.

The base and post unit 10 additionally comprises a central post or shaft 21 which is coaxial with disc 15 and is nonrotatably anchored therein. Stated more specifically, the post 21 is a tube formed of a stainless steel or other suitable metal, having a washer 22 welded radially at the lower end thereof. The peripheral portion of washer or disc 22 is notched, as at 23 in FIG. 3, in order to receive resin which acts as a key and prevents rotation of the washer and thus of the post.

At the upper end of the tubular post 21 is an interiorly threaded plug 24 which is preferably formed of synthetic resin. The plug 24 is nonrotatably mounted in the post, as by pressfitting and/or by an adhesive. A key 25 (FIGS. 3-5) is provided in order to insure against rotation of plug 24. For reasons discussed below, the upper end of the plug extends slightly above the upper end of the post.

In manufacturing the base and post unit 10, the lower end of post 21, and the washer 22 welded thereto, are caused to be present in the mold wherein disc 15, boss 17 and pawls 18-19 are formed. The synthetic resin thus flows into the notches 23 and locks the post against rotation as indicated above. During this same molding operation, thin horizontal shims (for example, formed of stainless steel) are caused to be present below each of the pawls l8 and 19. Then, after the synthetic resin has cured, the shims are withdrawn to form gaps 27 beneath the pawls and which permit the pawls to move relative to the underlying disc 15.

Proceeding next to the description of the second component, namely the drum 11, this is a relatively solid element which is molded of a suitable synthetic resin. A cylindrical bore or passage 28 is provided axially'of the drum and has a diameter slightly larger than that of the post 21, so that the drum may rotate freely on the post. The exterior surface 29 of drum 11 is concave and continuously curved in the classical manner of winch surfaces. The upper and lower surfaces of the drum, at the peripheral regions thereof, are planar and perpendicular to the drum axis, being spaced slight clearance distances from the adjacent radial surfaces of the disc and the cap 12 by thrust bearing elements described below. Thus, small clearance gaps are provided as shown at 31, FIG. 3.

Each end of drum 11 is recessed in such manner as to receive the boss portion 17 and pawls 18-19 (and also to receive corresponding elements, described be low, on cap 12). In addition, each end of the drum is provided with a multiplicity of internal teeth 32-33 shaped to cooperate with the pawls in order to drive the drum, or to prevent drum rotation at undesired times. There is only a small clearance between the tip of each tooth 32-33 and the adjacent cylindrical surface of boss 17 (or the corresponding boss on cap 12), such clearance being, for example, one thirty-second inch on radius.

The central recessed portion of each end of the drum, around bore or passage 28, is provided with an axially extending bearing boss 34-35 which acts as a thrust bearing means relative to the adjacent radial surface of boss 17 or of the corresponding boss on cap 12. Rubbing movement is therefore confined, when drum 11 rotates on shaft 21, to the region of bearing bosses 34-35, to the wall of bore 28, and to the upper end of plug 24 (as indicated subsequently).

Drum 11 is preferably formed of a polyethylene and therefore has sufficient lubricity to rotate relatively freely, at low speeds, despite the indicated rubbing. The polyethylene is preferably caused to be black to impede deterioration caused by ultraviolet rays from the sun. The base, cap and plug are also formed of a synthetic resin (described below) having much lubricrty.

There will next be described the third component of the winch, namely cap or top 12. This comprises a synthetic resin disc 36 the upper edge of which is rounded or beveled. Disc 36 has a downwardly-extending cylindrical boss 37 which is the mirror image of boss 17 of the base and post unit. The disc and boss have formed axially therein a cylindrical passage which rotatably receives the upper end of post 21. Formed integrally on the boss 37 are pawls 38 and 39 which are, respectively, mirror images of the pawls 18-19.

The pawls 38-39 are molded in the same manner as described above relative to pawls 18-19, using shims which, when removed, create clearance gaps corresponding to gaps 27 (FIG. 3). Each pawl 38-39 cooperates with teeth 33 at the upper end of drum 11, in the same manner that pawls 18-19 cooperate with teeth 32 at the lower end of the drum and as described subsequently.

Formed integrally at the upper central region of cap 12 is a generally rectangular socket 41 adapted to receive, from either of two opposite directions, the inner end of handle 13. Two opposed vertical sides of socket 41 are closed, whereas the remaining two opposed sides are slotted or open to receive the handle end.

To increase greatly the strength of the connection between the handle and the cap 12, a metal insert 42 is molded into socket 41, being preferably formed of stainless steel. The lower horizontal portion of insert 42 is continuous except for a central opening adapted to receive a cap screw 43 the shank of which is threaded into plug 24. The upper portion of insert 42 is also continuous except for a much larger opening, the diameter of which is sufficient to receive the large-diameter head of cap screw 43. The synthetic resin socket 41 is, at regions above the large opening in the insert, provided with a corresponding and registered opening.

The shank of cap screw 43 is sufficiently long that its lower end bottoms out in the plug 24 prior to the time that the undersurface of the head of screw 43 seats on the lower portion of insert 42. Thus, a gap (FIG. 3) is provided between the screw head and the lower region of insert 42, which permits rotation of the cap without causing the insert 42 to rub against any portion of the screw.

The central region of the lower portion of insert 42 seats on the upwardly-protuberant upper end of plug 24, thus providing an additional thrust bearing which augments the above-described bearing action present at boss 35.

As best shown in FIG. 3, the upper surface of the cap screw 43 is flat, and provides a seat for the lower surface of the inner end of handle 13. When the screw 43 is fully screwed into the plug 24, with the lower end of the screw seated on the bottom inner wall of the plug, the upper horizontal surface of the screw head is spaced from the lower horizontal surface of the upper portion of insert 42 by a distance only slightly greater than the thickness of the handle. It follows that the screw provides a guide and seat for the handle when such handle is inserted into the socket 41 from either side thereof.

The fourth component of the ratchet winch, namely handle or crank 13, is a strong strip 45 of metal, such as stainless steel, having a vertically-extending grip portion 46 (FIG. 1) at the outer end thereof. Opposed edge regions of the inner end of strip 45 (handle 13) are angularly notched as shown at 47 in FIG. 6. The notches 47 receive detent elements 48 which are inserted through suitable openings in insert 42, being pressed by helical compression springs 49. The springs 49 are mounted in suitable protuberant portions of socket 41, as by the indicated pins 51.

The extreme inner end 52 of handle strip 45 is tapered and rounded in the manner of the end of a screw driver. This provides two beneficial results, the first of which is to facilitate the insertion of the handle into the .socket 41 (such insertion being also aided by a rounded edge of the screw head). Furthermore, end 52 is employed as a screw driver relative to cap screw 43 when it is desired to effect disassembly or assembly of the winch. To this end, screw 43 is provided with a groove 53 adapted to receive the tapered end 52 of the screw driver.

FURTHER DESCRIPTION OF THE PAWLS 18-19 AND 38-39, AND ASSOCIATED TEETH 32-33 It is an important aspect of the present invention that, as above noted, each of the pawls 18-19 and 38-39 is integral with an associated boss portion 17-37. This not only saves money in manufacture, but eliminates difficulty when the winch is assembled or disassembled out on the boat. This is because there are no little springs, disassembled pawls, etc., to roll around the boat and possibly become lost.

To provide the requisite resilience in the connection between each pawl and its associated boss portion, the base and the cap are each formed of a strong and resilient synthetic resin material. Such material may also be employed to form the plug 24 and the cap screw 43. A suitable synthetic resin for all of these elements is a crystalline acetal copolymer based on trioxane, for example one designated formula M90-04 and trademarked Celcon by the Celanese Company. Another suitable material is a polyurethane.

Referring next to FIGS. 4 and 5, there will be described the pawls and associated ratchet teeth. Since .each of the four pawls 18-19 and 38-39 is identical to each of the others, only one (number 38) will be described.

Each pawl has an elongated and relatively thick and strong body portion 55. The body portion is integral at one end thereof with a relatively thin, flexural beam portion 56 which is radially oriented. In order to distribute the bending required when the body portion 55 shifts out of engagement with an associated ratchet tooth, the beam 56 is relatively long and has a substantially uniform cross-sectional shape.

The outer side of body portion 55 is, throughout the majority of the length thereof, a cylindrical surface 57. Such surface 57 constitutes a substantial continuation of the cylindrical surface of boss 37 when the pawl is fully engaged with an associated ratchet tooth 33 (FIG. 4). Adjacent to the cylindrical surface 57, and at its end remote from beam 56, the body 55 is shaped as a tooth portion 58 adapted to mate snugly with an associated ratchet tooth 33.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, each ratchet tooth is preferably of a saw-tooth configuration instead of being isosceles or equilateral in nature, having a relatively steep face which is engaged flatwise by the beam end (that is to say, by one surface of tooth portion 58).

An elongated gap 59 is provided between body 55 and the portion of boss37 radially-inwardly thereof. The gap 59 is sufficiently wide to permit the necessary inward movement of body 55 (accompanied by flexing of beam portion 56) when ratcheting is occurring as shown in FIG. 5.

A generally radial gap 61 is provided adjacent each pawl in order to separate the same from boss portion 37, such gap being relatively thin adjacent body 55 and relatively wide and rounded adjacent beam 56. The face of boss 37 adjacent gap 61 is numbered 62 and constitutes a stop surface. The stop surface absorbs the load when the parts are in positions similar to those shown in FIG. 4 but with the outer region of gap 61 closed in response to loading and consequent flexing of beam portion 56. Such loading occurs, for example, when cap 12 is rotated a short distance clockwise from the position shown in FIG. 4, while drum 11 is held stationary. There is then relatively uniform compression created in each of the diametrically opposite pawls, this being possible because the pawls are substantially identical in size and because the synthetic resin of which they are formed is slightly compressible.

The rotational strength of the ratchet winch is determined by the physical properties of the synthetic resin employed. This is because each pawl is, when in a loaded condition, under a compression load resembling the load present in a column (as distinguished from a shear load or a bending load). a

Referring to FIG. 4, the indicated line A-B is, in general, the longitudinal axis of pawl body 55. Reference line C lies along a radius of the winch and is substantially perpendicular to line A-B. It is to be noted that line C perpendicularly intersects line A-B within the confines of the pawl body 55, instead of being outside of the pawl body. It follows that the pawl body is substantially perpendicular to the load created in response to an attempted rotational movement of cap 12, and this substantially perpendicular relationship is what causes the load in the pawl body to be compressive as distinguished from being a shearing or bending load. Since the load is compressive, the rotational strength of the ratchet winch is relatively high despite the fact that the winch is made primarily of synthetic resin instead of metal.

It is to be understood that no substantial load is borne by the flexural beam 56, since the end of the pawl body adjacent the beam bottoms out on stop surface 62 (so that the stop surface, not the beam, absorbs the major thrust).

SUMMARY OF OPERATION AND CONSTRUCTION The various parts are molded, in the general manner indicated above, with post 21 and washer 22 being an insert in the mold for base and post unit 10. Similarly, insert 42 is an insert in the mold for cap 12. Shims are provided in the mold to form the gaps 27, etc. Suitable shims are also employed in the mold to form the gaps 61 behind the various pawls.

After manufacturing is completed, the base and post unit is readily anchored on the deck of a boat or elsewhere by means of screws or bolts inserted through screw openings 16. Drum 11 is then merely slid down over post 21, cap 12 is mounted over the drum, and screw 43 is inserted downwardly and threaded all of the way into the opening in plug 24 (such threading being effected by handle end 52).

The winch is thus assembled easily and in a short period of time. A rope, for example a jib sheet or main sheet, is then wrapped around the drum 11, and the lower pawls 18-19 effectively prevent the drum 11 from rotating in any direction other than clockwise (as viewed from above). When it is desired to crank the drum ll, handle 13 is snapped into socket 41 from either side thereof. counterclockwise movement of the handle 13 (as viewed from above) causes cap 12 to ratchet relative to the drum, with accompanying deflection of pawls 38-39 as indicated in FIG. 5. Clockwise movement of the handle then drives the cap clockwise to effect driving of drum 11 in the clockwise direction. Such clockwise driving of the drum (as viewed from above) causes ratcheting of the lower pawls 18-19 relative to the teeth at the lower end of the drum.

The foregoing detailed description is to be clearly understood as given by way of illustration and example only, the spirit and scope of this invention being limited solely by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A ratchet winch formed primarily of synthetic resin, which comprises:

a. a synthetic resin base adapted to be anchored on the deck of a boat,

b. a metal post the lower end portion of which is embedded in said base, said post having thread means at the upper end thereof,

c. a synthetic resin drum rotatably mounted on said post in the absence of bearings therebetween,

d. first pawl and ratchet means to associate said drum with said base in such manner that said drum may only rotate in one direction relative to said base, said first pawl and ratchet means being formed of synthetic resin and including pawl means integral with said base,

e. a synthetic resin cap rotatably mounted on said post over said drum,

f. a screw extended through said cap and threaded said thread means to hold said cap on said drum,

g. second pawl and ratchet means to associate said cap with said drum in such manner that said cap may only rotate in one direction relative to said drum, I said second pawl and ratchet means being formed of synthetic resin and including pawl means integral with said cap, and

h. crank means removably mounted on said cap to permit manual driving thereof.

2. The invention as claimed in claim 1, in which a relatively large-diameter metal element is welded to the lower end of said post and generally perpendicularly thereto, said element being embedded in said base.

3. The invention as claimed in claim 1, in which said post is hollow, and in which said thread means is formed internal and is in a plug fixedly mounted at the upper end of said tubular post.

4. The invention as claimed in claim 1, in which each of said pawl means comprises at least one flexural beam having a cross-sectional shape sufficiently thin that said beam will flex substantially, and further comprises at least one elongated pawl formed integrally with said beam and having a relatively thick cross-sectional shape, one end of said pawl being adapted to lock with one of the ratchet teeth of the associated ratchet means when said beam is in one flexed condition, and being released from said tooth when said beam is in another flexed condition, said pawl being located, when said beam is in said one flexed condition, that the longitudinal axis of said pawl is intersected generally perpendicularly by a radius passing through the axis of said post, the intersection point of said radius with said longitudinal axis being within said pawl, whereby said pawl is loaded generally in compression and thus has much strength despite the fact that said pawl is formed of synthetic resin instead of metal.

5. A ratchet winch, which comprises:

a. a base formed of synthetic resin and adapted to be anchored nonrotatably on a support, said base having a post extending upwardly therefrom,

b. a synthetic resin boss formed on the upper side of said base and integrally therewith,

c. pawl means formed of synthetic resin,

said pawl means being integral with said boss,

d. a drum mounted rotatably on said post,

said drum having'a recessed lower end provided interiorly with ratchet teeth and which fits around said boss and around said pawl means, said pawl means and said ratchet teeth cooperating with each other to permit rotation of said drum in only a single direction relative to said base,

e. a cap rotatably mounted on said post over said drum, said cap being formed of synthetic resin, said cap having a synthetic resin boss formed integrally therewith on the lower side thereof and extending downwardly into said recessed upper end portion of said drum, and

f. pawl and ratchet means to permit rotation of said cap in only a single direction relative to said drum,

said pawl and ratchet means comprising ratchet teeth provided interiorly on a recessed upper end portion of said drum,

said pawl and ratchet means further comprising synthetic resin pawl means provided integrally on said last-mentioned boss and cooperating with said last-mentioned ratchet teeth to permit rotation of said cap in only a single direction relative to said drum.

6. The invention as claimed in claim 5, in which said drum is formed of synthetic resin, and in which said ratchet teeth at the lower and upper ends thereof are integral therewith.

7. A ratchet winch, which comprises:

a. a base formed of synthetic resin and adapted to be anchored nonrotatably on a support, said base having a post extending upwardly therefrom,

b. a synthetic resin boss formed on the upper side of said base and integrally therewith,

c. pawl means formed of synthetic resin,

said pawl means being integral with said boss,

said pawl means comprising at least one flexural beam formed integrally on said boss, and further comprising at least one pawl formed integrally on said beam,

(1. a drum mounted rotatably on said post,

said drum having a recessed lower end provided interiorly with ratchet teeth and which fits around said boss and around said pawl means,

said pawl means and said ratchet teeth cooperating with each other to permit rotation of said drum in only a single direction relative to said base, one portion of said pawl being disposed to engage successive ones of said ratchet teeth,

e. a cap rotatably mounted on said post over said drum, and

f. pawl and ratchet means to permit rotation of said cap in only a single direction relative to said drum.

8. A ratchet winch, which comprises:

a. a base formed of synthetic resin and adapted to be mounted fixedly on the deck of a boat, said base having a central post extending upwardly therefrom,

b. a synthetic resin boss formed on the upper side of said base and integrally therewith,

c. a drum mounted rotatably on said post,

said drum having a recessed lower end provided interiorly with ratchet teeth and which fits around said boss, 7 d. first pawl and ratchet means to associate said drum with said'base in such manner that said drum may only rotate in one direction relative to said base, said first pawl and ratchet means including said ratchet teeth and also including pawl means formed of synthetic resin and integral with said boss, said pawl means being interposed between said boss and said ratchet teeth, e. a cap formed primarily of synthetic resin and mounted rotatably on the upper end of said post over said drum,

said cap having a synthetic resin socket portion adapted to receive the inner end of a capactuating handle or crank,- said socket portion having a hollow metal insert molded therein for reception of said handle end, whereby the stresses created due to operation of said handle are distributed by said insert to the synthetic resin forming said cap to thereby increase the effective strength of the winch, and f. second pawl and ratchet means to associate said cap with said drum in such manner that said cap may only rotate in one direction relative to said drum. 9. The invention as claimed in claim 8, in which said handle end extends into said insert in a direction lateral to said post, in which said pawl and ratchet means recited in clause (f) comprises ratchet teeth provided interiorly on a recessed upper end portion of said drum, in which said cap has a synthetic resin boss formed integrally therewith on the lower side thereof and extending downwardly into said recessed upper end portion of said drum, in which said pawl and ratchet means further comprises synthetic resin pawl means provided'integrally on said last-mentioned boss and cooperating with said last-mentioned ratchet teeth to permit rotation of said cap in only a single direction relative to said drum, and in which said cap is held down by fastener means associated with the upper end of said post. 

1. A ratchet winch formed primarily of synthetic resin, which comprises: a. a synthetic resin base adapted to be anchored on the deck of a boat, b. a metal post the lower end portion of which is embedded in said base, said post having thread means at the upper end thereof, c. a synthetic resin drum rotatably mounted on said post in the absence of bearings therebetween, d. first pawl and ratchet means to associate said drum with said base in such manner that said drum may only rotate in one direction relative to said base, said first pawl and ratchet means being formed of synthetic resin and including pawl means integral with said base, e. a synthetic resin cap rotatably mounted on said post over said drum, f. a screw extended through said cap and threaded said thread means to hold said cap on said drum, g. second pawl and ratchet means to associate said cap with said drum in such manner that said cap may only rotate in one direction relative to said drum, said second pawl and ratchet means being formed of synthetic resin and including pawl means integral with said cap, and h. crank means removably mounted on said cap to permit manual driving thereof.
 2. The invention as claimed in claim 1, in which a relatively large-diameter metal element is welded to the lower end of said post and generally perpendicularly thereto, said element being embedded in said base.
 3. The invention as claimed in claim 1, in which said post is hollow, and in which said thread means is formed internal and is in a plug fixedly mounted at the upper end of said tubular post.
 4. The invention as claimed in claim 1, in which each of said pawl means comprises at least one flexural beam having a cross-sectional shape sufficiently thin that said beam will flex substantially, and further comprises at least one elongated pawl formed integrally with said beam and having a relatively thick cross-sectional shape, one end of said pawl being adapted to lock with one of the ratchet teeth of the associated ratchet means when said beam is in one flexed condition, and being released from said tooth when said beam is in another flexed condition, said pawl being located, when said beam is in said one flexed condition, that the longitudinal axis of said pawl is intersected generally perpendicularly by a radius passing through the axis of said post, the intersection point of said radius with said longitudinal axis being within said pawl, whereby said pawl is loaded generally in compression and thus has much strength despite the fact that said pawl is formed of synthetic resin instead of metal.
 5. A ratchet winch, which comprises: a. a base formed of synthetic resin and adapted to be anchored nonrotatably on a support, said base having a post extending upwardly therefrom, b. a synthetic resin boss formed on the upper side of said base and integrally therewith, c. pawl means formed of synthetic resin, said pawl means being integral with said boss, d. a drum mounted rotatably on said post, said drum having a recessed lower end provided interiorly with ratchet teeth and which fits around said boss and around said pawl means, said pawl means and said ratchet teeth cooperating with each other to permit rotation of said drum in only a single direction relative to said base, e. a cap rotatably mounted on said post over said drum, said cap being formed of synthetic resin, said cap having a synthetic resin boss formed integrally therewith on the lower side thereof and exTending downwardly into said recessed upper end portion of said drum, and f. pawl and ratchet means to permit rotation of said cap in only a single direction relative to said drum, said pawl and ratchet means comprising ratchet teeth provided interiorly on a recessed upper end portion of said drum, said pawl and ratchet means further comprising synthetic resin pawl means provided integrally on said last-mentioned boss and cooperating with said last-mentioned ratchet teeth to permit rotation of said cap in only a single direction relative to said drum.
 6. The invention as claimed in claim 5, in which said drum is formed of synthetic resin, and in which said ratchet teeth at the lower and upper ends thereof are integral therewith.
 7. A ratchet winch, which comprises: a. a base formed of synthetic resin and adapted to be anchored nonrotatably on a support, said base having a post extending upwardly therefrom, b. a synthetic resin boss formed on the upper side of said base and integrally therewith, c. pawl means formed of synthetic resin, said pawl means being integral with said boss, said pawl means comprising at least one flexural beam formed integrally on said boss, and further comprising at least one pawl formed integrally on said beam, d. a drum mounted rotatably on said post, said drum having a recessed lower end provided interiorly with ratchet teeth and which fits around said boss and around said pawl means, said pawl means and said ratchet teeth cooperating with each other to permit rotation of said drum in only a single direction relative to said base, one portion of said pawl being disposed to engage successive ones of said ratchet teeth, e. a cap rotatably mounted on said post over said drum, and f. pawl and ratchet means to permit rotation of said cap in only a single direction relative to said drum.
 8. A ratchet winch, which comprises: a. a base formed of synthetic resin and adapted to be mounted fixedly on the deck of a boat, said base having a central post extending upwardly therefrom, b. a synthetic resin boss formed on the upper side of said base and integrally therewith, c. a drum mounted rotatably on said post, said drum having a recessed lower end provided interiorly with ratchet teeth and which fits around said boss, d. first pawl and ratchet means to associate said drum with said base in such manner that said drum may only rotate in one direction relative to said base, said first pawl and ratchet means including said ratchet teeth and also including pawl means formed of synthetic resin and integral with said boss, said pawl means being interposed between said boss and said ratchet teeth, e. a cap formed primarily of synthetic resin and mounted rotatably on the upper end of said post over said drum, said cap having a synthetic resin socket portion adapted to receive the inner end of a cap-actuating handle or crank, said socket portion having a hollow metal insert molded therein for reception of said handle end, whereby the stresses created due to operation of said handle are distributed by said insert to the synthetic resin forming said cap to thereby increase the effective strength of the winch, and f. second pawl and ratchet means to associate said cap with said drum in such manner that said cap may only rotate in one direction relative to said drum.
 9. The invention as claimed in claim 8, in which said handle end extends into said insert in a direction lateral to said post, in which said pawl and ratchet means recited in clause (f) comprises ratchet teeth provided interiorly on a recessed upper end portion of said drum, in which said cap has a synthetic resin boss formed integrally therewith on the lower side thereof and extending downwardly into said recessed upper end portion of said drum, in which said pawl and ratchet means further comprises synthetic resin pawl means provided integrally on said last-Mentioned boss and cooperating with said last-mentioned ratchet teeth to permit rotation of said cap in only a single direction relative to said drum, and in which said cap is held down by fastener means associated with the upper end of said post. 